Leeds humbled by Rochdale
Telegraph 4/1/14By Les Scott, at Spotland
Goals from Scott Hogan and Ian Henderson turned League Two Rochdale into FA Cup giant-killers as Keith Hill’s League Two side outfought, out-thought and for long periods outplayed Championship promotion-hopefuls Leeds United in a thrilling cup tie.
Leeds United won the trophy in 1972 – when Don Revie’s side bestrode English football like a colossus. Rochdale, by contrast, were very much a 'Cinderella’ club with attendances often struggling to exceed 2,000.
So strapped for cash were the Spotland club in the Seventies, when the ageing seats in their main stand needed replacing, they were purchased cut-price from a local cinema that was closing down.
“The only stand in football with velveteen seats ... it was compensation for some of the football we had to watch,” said one veteran fan.
Rochdale is the home of the British Co-operative movement and the home side paid their fans a dividend from the start as they tore into their supposed superiors and had the ball in the net after eight minutes, only for Joe Bunney’s effort to be ruled offside.
The visitors found themselves restricted to counterattacks, though they could have taken the lead themselves when Matt Smith’s header was hacked off the line by Matthew Lund.
Rochdale continued to pressure their supposed superiors and Leeds were indebted to goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who first saved at the feet of Hogan before again denying Henderson and Bunney.
Against a home side bent on attack, Leeds were riding their luck – and it deserted them in first-half injury time. Peter Vincenti, who was enjoying plenty of success on the Rochdale right, hit a pinpoint cross towards the Leeds penalty spot where Hogan rose to head the home side into a deserved lead.
Brian McDermott’s visitors needed to be better in the second period and were, with Ross McCormack and Luke Murphy going close and Smith having a header cleared off the line a second time.
Yet an equaliser proved elusive and it was Keith Hill’s side who belied the theoretical gap between the sides by snatching back the initiative with Hogan and the impressive Henderson both going close.
Leeds never came to terms with the inventiveness of the latter, nor the trickery of Vincenti, and as the second half progressed they again found themselves on the back foot.
The hosts’ pressure paid off in the 84th minute when substitute Graham Cummins’ cross from the right was met on the half-volley by an unmarked Henderson, whose dipping shot evaded Kenny’s prodigious leap.
“Contrary to what may have been said, the FA Cup is alive and kicking – well, it certainly is here,” said a delighted Hill.
“Today was something extra-special and I don’t think two-nil flattered us at all. Every player was tremendous, as were our fans. The players executed our plan to perfection, which was to take the game to Leeds and pressure their defence.
“The money the cup generates will make a big difference to this club, it could mean the difference between funding a promotion push or not.
“Every player was outstanding today, I thought Ian Henderson particularly so. Ian wanted to move to the North West because his partner works for Manchester United, now, that would be some tie for us to get.
“We shall allow ourselves a little celebration, not champagne though, we’re not that well off, perhaps a couple of Carlsberg’s – if they did giant-killing acts in the FA Cup, they could do not better than what you saw today.”
On the flip side, McDermott was dejected with his side’s performance, admitting: “That’s probably the worst moment I’ve had as a manager or player. I lost a play-off final and I didn’t feel as hurt as I do today. We now have to show what we are made off, show some character and bounce back.
“Credit to Rochdale, they were terrific today and for periods of the game stopped us playing.”